The SEC's transfer rules are about to get more restrictive, as the conference's presidents and chancellors voted in favor of a policy blocking student-athletes with domestic violence or sexual assault on their record.
According to ESPN, the University of Georgia introduced the new policy amid doubts the entire league could agree on such a sweeping policy. However, SEC Commissioner-elect Greg Sankey indicated member schools' leadership was on-board to address an important issue.
"[There was] not a lot of variance at the end of the conversation," Sankey told ESPN. "I actually think the league came together on this issue. There were healthy conversations."
Under the new policy, the SEC will bar prospective transfer student-athletes from "athletically-related financial aid, practice or competition" if he or she has been "subject to official university of athletics department disciplinary action" for domestic violence or sexual assault.
In the circumstance that the student-athlete is acquitted, found not guilty or if the charges are dropped the SEC will review the case before deciding on permitting him or her.
"If there was other information to bear at some point, that would obviously be considered," Sankey said.
The SEC already does not allow transfer student-athletes that have past academic punishments, which likely blocked Everett Golson from enrolling at an SEC school when transferring from Notre Dame.
The SEC is expected to address their graduate transfer guidelines, but Sankey indicated the new policy is an unrelated topic.
"I think it's a reflection of the conference feeling this is the right step for the Southeastern Conference," Sankey told ESPN. "I don't worry about that. I think that's a leadership opportunity."
